Woodfield residents to gain from funding for IT training

A two-year project in Harrogate has received a £17,443 funding boost to help issues of social isolation, community work and unemployment.

The money is to deliver a two-year programme that will increase the IT skills of 112 Woodfield residents’ in Harrogate to increase participants confidence, self-esteem and ability to interact with others.

Bilton & Woodfield Community Library, the group behind the project, plan to deliver IT training. The funding will be used to purchase equipment and provide a tutor, who will deliver 14 courses at the library.

The project will teach people new, transferrable skills to improve their employability while also reducing isolation among residents in the local area.

Using money raised by HealthLevel CIC, through The Health Lottery, grants have been awarded by People’s Health Trust through Active Communities, a funding programme which invests in local people and groups in communities.

Chris Lunn, director of HealthLevel CIC, said:The projects are extremely valuable to a wide range of individuals across this region; we look forward to hearing more about how these initiatives are enabling people to live longer healthier lives.

County Councillor David Simister (Ukip, Bilton and Nidd Gorge) said this was excellent news for those in the Woodlfield and Bilton areas wanting to learn basic IT skills but have no access to a computer or the internet.

Councillor Simister added: Once the new facility is up and running I’m sure the classes funded by this grant will prove very popular indeed.

HealthLevel CIC has raised £727,019, through The Health Lottery, for health-related good causes in York and North Yorkshire.

Active Communities is for community groups and not-for-profit organisations’ with an income of less than £350,000 a year that are seeking investment of between £5,000 and £50,000 a year, for projects lasting up to two years.